Pipe clamp



F.-l. JOHNSON.

PIPE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3, I920- I 1,418,650, PatentedJune 6, 1922.

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Application filed July 3, 1920.

To all whom may concern Be it known that l Fennnmcn 1. JOHN- son, a citizen of the United States residing at l Varrcn. l-lhode Island, in the county of Bristol and State of llhode Island. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe Clamps, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to clamps used for grounding or binding electric wire conduits more particularly used in electric lighting and telephone systems; and the ohjectof this invention is to provide such a. grounding clamp with a cup-shaped or socket, terminal wire-receiving m ember which is connected to the body of a clamp.

A furtherobject of the invention is to pro, vide a flexible or adjustable contact shoe or member of contacting material and to secure this shoe to the body of a clamp to yieldably engage the conduit or p'ipeto be grounded and to provide one end. of this contact shoe with the cup or socket member.

The nature and advantages of the invention will he better understood when the following detail description is taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

ln the drawings forming part of this I specification, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating my improved construction wherein the socket member is connected to the free end of a contact shoe.

Figure 2 is an end View of a conduit illustrating my improved construction of shoe in contact with the conduit.

Figure 3 isa perspective View showing the contact shoe in detail.

Figure 4 is a modification illustrating the socket or cup as formed integral in the end of the contact shoe.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a separate socket member in detail.

It is found in practice, owing to the high 4 price of conductor metals, such as copper.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 6, 1922?.

Serial No. 393,789.

clamp whiclr comprises essentially a saddle member 10 which maybe formed of any suitable material, but with my improved type of clamp I preferably form the same of the less expensive materials, Such as steel. iron-stamping, malleable iron or the like which is formed in substantially a V-shape, its lower edges 11 being adapted to rest upon the surface of a pipeor conduit, which IQOH- struction is fully described in my prior Pat pnt No. 1,250,467, patented December 13 v I:

This saddle inembed is readily connected to a pipe or conduit by means. of a flexible band 12, one end 15 of whichis permanently securedto the saddle by av bendabletongue 16. while the opposite end is provided with a series of holes 13which are adapted to engage the hook member 14. on, the opposite side of thesaddle,

In the practicaluse of clamps of this char-v acter the Board of Underwriters requires that when a clamp is connected to a pipeit shall contact with at least three-fourths of the circumference thereof; to eomplywith which requirement, especially in using-,.this clamp for enlarginguthe elfectiyeelectrical contacting area of the clamp, the contact shoe is preferably formed in a U-shape as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the contact end 18 of the shoe being enlarged to rest upon the pipe or conduit, while the other portion of the shoe is arranged to extend along the upper surface of the saddle 10 with its end 19 extending beyond the end 20 of the saddle. A hole 21 is formed through this horizontal arm to receive the binding screw 22 which is threaded through the saddle 10, and its end 23 is adapted to engage the upper surface of the contact portion 18 of the shoe to both insure a direct contact with the conduit and also to bind and hold the clamp firmly in position thereon.

is only necessai and of cheaper materials of less conductivity, While the shoe or contact member Which is of much lighter stoclcmay be formed complete of brass or copper and to the free end of: this shoe may be connected a socket or cup member into which the end of the Wire or conductor 27 may be connected,

When it is desired to secure this Wire conductor to my improved form of terminal, it to dropa piece of solder into the cup, then melt the same by the application ot a torch to the sides of the cup, when upon inserting the end of the conductor Wire into this cup the molten metal rises up around the Wire and upon cooling forms-one solid mass making a perfect connection hoth mechanically and electrically oi the wire conductor to the saddle member;

By constructing my improved pipe clamp in the manner herein described it complies with all the rules and regulations of" the Board of Underwriters. and provides a most practical and eflicient clamp for making electrical connection between the conductor Wire and a pipe.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. A clamp for ground Wires comprisinga saddle member, a contact shoe member having one end adapted to engage the grounding pipe and having a portion positioned to extend across and beyond the body of: said saddle, clamping means :l'or securing said saddle and shoe in position to the grounding pipe, and means at the free end of said shoe member to which the conductor Wire may be soldered.

2. A clamp for ground Wires comprising a saddle member, a contact shoe member hai 'ing one end adapted to engage the grounding pipe and having a portion positioned to extend across and beyond the body of said. saddle, clamping means for securing said saddle and shoe to the grounding pipe. and a socket member 011 the extending end of said shoeadapted to receive and have the end of an electrical conductor soldered therein.

3. A clamp for ground Wires comprising for securing both the saddle and shoe in position on the ground pipe.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FREDERICK I. JOHNSON. 

